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Light Unto Africa
The devastating pictures from Rwanda and Zaire
continue to relentlessly assault us. We Jews have
a special sensitivity to the scene. As tens of thou-
sands die in one location, their bodies stacked
like twisted logs, waiting to be scooped up by
bulldozers and thrown into ditches, we in-
escapably make a link to our own past 50 years
ago. But this is not central and eastern Europe.
Rather, it is what greets the eyes of those in
Goma, Zaire, and surrounding towns in central
Africa.
Any heart, and particularly the Jewish one,
must cry in anguish when one contemplates the
latest result of humanity's impact upon itself.
But while there is no room for celebration in
these fields of death, for Jews there are reasons
to be proud. Since July 25, all that is right with
Israel and the Jewish mission to the world has
been on display in this horrible situation. At 6
a.m. that day, the first of eight Israeli Hercules
transports landed in Goma. Those planes con-
tained 50 medical staff, 30 auxiliary staff and
equipment for a field hospital that includes beds
for 120. Aside from the local hospital, the Israeli
operating rooms were the only ones in the area.
At this stage, Israel has little to gain in po-
litical credence or financial benefit from central
Africa. Its actions are ones demanded by the
Jewish psyche of its citizens and its desires to
play a meaningful role on the world stage. Israel
is often among the world's first nations to re-
spond to a humanitarian crisis. A few examples:
in 1992 medical aid was sent to Bosnia, and in
1988, following a devastating earthquake, a med-
ical team went to Armenia and treated some
2,500 people.
Israel's mission to Africa again proves that
the Jewish state is colorblind when it comes to
helping others. This was dramatically seen by
the world in 1986 and 1991. Then, Israel became
the world's first nation to deliver black Africans,
Ethiopian Jews, from slavery to freedom.
Among those that we hope notice Israel's ef-
forts in Goma are critics such as some African-
American leaders who believe that among the
Jews' goals is to subjugate blacks everywhere.
Those who seek to criticize Israel should turn
their eyes to the desolation of central Africa, a
place where Israel, its people and government,
are displaying what can make it a light unto all
nations.
Letters
Murderer
Vs. Martyr
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As a community, let us stop
trying to celebrate a murderer.
We drop down to the level of our
oppressors when we do that. In-
It is foolish to consider Baruch stead, let us try to bring them out
Goldstein a martyr, as Rabbi Dov of the ditch of oppression onto
Lior suggests. It shouldn't mat- more sacred ground.
ter that he was killed by Pales-
Gary Rimar
tinians. To quote from your
Clawson
article "When a Jew is killed by
non-Jews, one does not take into Gays, Lesbians
consideration the sins he may And Yad Vashem
have committed because of the
manner of his death atones for Mr. Lev Raphael's article in The
whatever he may have done Jewish News (July 15) appeared
wrong during his life." This at an appropriate time.
doesn't make sense, and doesn't
Our sages tell us that on the
9th of Av, when we commemo-
even apply.
The last minute redemption is rate the destruction of our holi-
too similar to what Christians be- est places, we should study only
lieve related to the acceptance of writings which deal with Jewish
Jesus before one's death. Appar- tragedies. The article "A Display
ently, according to Christians, Of Open Hatred At Yad Vashem"
any Nazi war criminal who ac- should certainly be permitted
cepted Jesus before his death was reading on that day.
saved, while all the Jews (who of
I, too, have just returned from
course wouldn't accept Jesus) an extended stay in Jerusalem,
and like Mr. Raphael, I visited
went to hell.
I would personally like to think Yad Vashem. I went there to be
that Judaism doesn't have such in the surroundings of a special
place to remember my parents,
beliefs.
Second, it could be easily de- relatives, and all other victims of
cided that what Baruch Goldstein Nazi atrocities. But that is where
committed was murder-suicide, our similarities end.
which wouldn't grant him martyr
My family came from Poland,
status. He had to know that he but I did not just make my pil-
would not survive his attack. Do grimage to remember Polish
we have the martyrdom rules of Jews. There are six million Jews
Muslims, who tell their followers to remember. I am sure that
that if they die while killing infi- among those who died are Jews
dels that they will go to heaven? who were gay, lesbian, adulter-
Letters
Rabbi Macy Gordon wrote in
his article: "...Yad Vashem was
used to make a political state-
ment about 'Gay Pride.' That
kind of statement was not in
place. It was ill conceived. It was
perhaps an act of desecration,
straining tolerance of those who
are willing to avoid invading oth-
ers' private lives, but are not pre-
pared to legitimize an
unacceptable lifestyle."
(Jerusalem Post, June 3).
If Mr. Raphael and his group
are sincere, let them say their
prayers in the privacy of their
surroundings. God is om-
nipresent. He will surely hear
their prayers.
Henry S. Baum
Ultimate Target
Of The Terrorists
Southfield
fortunate that none of my Ar-
gentina cousins (numbering over
150) were killed or injured. This
horrible act of terrorism took
away 100 lives and over 70,000
volumes of books, magazines and
newspapers — the history of the
Argentine Jewish Community.
Others in the past have tried
to take away our community and
our history. The Nazis did not
succeed and neither will those
who perpetrated this heinous
crime.
Argentina, the fourth largest
Jewish community in the world,
is rich in our traditions and his-
tory. When my grand-aunt Pearl
Gelfand and her family emigrat-
ed from Russia to Argentina in
1925, it was because the doors of
the United States were closed and
Argentina welcomed them. Thus
continued the great migration.
We must show the Jewish com-
munity of Argentina that we want
their history to continue and re-
main alive. We must remember
those who were killed, help the sur-
vivors and restore the history of the
Jewish people of Argentina.
We, of all peoples, know the
importance of history and keep-
ing families together through
lines of communication. The Jew-
ish people of Argentina need our
help to rebuild and the help is
needed in the form of money.
Please send your donations to
the B'nai B'rith Disaster Relief
Fund; Attention: Argentina Jew-
ish Community Fund; 1640
Rhode Island Ave. NW; Wash-
ington, DC 20036.
America should once more be on
the alert. The attack on the Jew-
ish people internationally re-
ers, thieves, Jews who sent their sembles another attack 60 years
fellow man to the death cham- ago in Germany.
The communication services,
bers and, perhaps even Jews who
newspapers, magazines and tele-
practiced bestiality. I came to re-
member six million Jews quietly vision are forgetting or ignoring
a significant American venture.
together with my wife.
Why did Mr. Raphael and his This country had installed the
group come to Yad Vashem? Not Shah in Iran, who brought with
to remember his parents or rela- him many Western cultural con-
cepts. At the same time, Khome-
tives, "only to say Kaddish for gay
and lesbian Jews who had died ini was imprisoned in France for
20 years.
in the Shoah."
When finally the Shah was dis-
Mr. Raphael cites the support
of Yael Dayan whose anti-reli- posed of and Khomeini came to
gious feelings make the outlawed his position of power, surely there
Kach party look like mainstream was no love or gratitude directed
David C. Sloan
Israel. To quote her own words: towards the United States.
Once again, the Jewish people
Huntington Woods
"...We have no need of Nazi or fas-
are the first target. However, re-
cist analogies for the horrific dis-
member the bombing of the Remembering
crimination that exists among us.
World Trade Center in the heart Those Names
It has a Jewish name, a scullcap
of New York City. The terrorist
on its head." (Jerusalem Post,
leadership can employ any num- I read with great interest your
June 3).
ber
of hapless individuals, inspire July 29 Close-Up, "That's My
No one should deny anyone
the right to pray at Yad Vashem, them, and send them anywhere Name, Too." I thought you might
to say Kaddish (the exaltation of in the world. World conquest by like to add my name, David
God's name) even when that per- crazed terrorists is once again on Shepherd, to your list of unusu-
al same-name stories.
son is desecrating God's Holy the march.
I am a mortgage loan officer
America beware! Today the
Law. What I cannot accept is
residing
in Oak Park. On many
Jewish
people
are
attacked!
To-
when a special group wants to
occasions, when the phone rings
use Yad Vashem to politicize its morrow the World!
Ann Barnett and I am expecting an important
way of life which is contrary to
Southfield business call, I get the following
the laws of Jews, Christians and
inquiry, " Can you please give me
Muslims.
Argentine Jews
directions to your park?"
Mr. Raphael and his group
You see, I have the same
Need
Our
Help
came to Yad Vashem to make a
name as the former mayor of Oak
political statement which he knew
would provoke confrontation. He This past week I attended a corn- Park, after whom the Oak Park
m.unity-wide memorial service park was named.
was successful. He received his
David Shepherd
publicity from the press. Why did for the victims of the Buenos
Oak Park
Aires, Argentina, bombing. I was
this success shock him?